Google Play Store Adds Wishlists, But No Sharing Just Yet

Analysis of recent Google Play Store APK releases showed the building blocks of what looked like a new wishlist feature coming to the app. The graphics for the UI elements were in place, and it looked like Google was just waiting for the right chance to push the changes live. That time has finally come, with Google activating the wishlist last night for users on the latest 3.9.16 build.

For now, the wishlist seems to just serve as a personal reminder of things you were looking at earlier. While browsing through the Store, you can flag apps, music, books – any sort of media the Play Store sells – and bookmark it to add the item to your wishlist. When we first talked about the feature back in August, we wondered if there might be a social component to the list, letting you share your selections with friends (and if you’re lucky, have one purchase some of the choices for you), but nothing like that seems to be currently implemented.

None of that means that list sharing isn’t coming, though, and Google could be planning to flesh things out over the next few weeks; a fully-functional wishlist along those lines could be a great boon for sales around the upcoming holiday season.

Stephen has been writing about electronics since 2008, which only serves to frustrate him that he waited so long to combine his love of gadgets and his degree in writing. In his spare time, he collects console and arcade game hardware, is a motorcycle enthusiast, and enjoys trapping blue crabs. Stephen's first mobile device was a 624 MHz Dell Axim X30, which he's convinced is still a viable platform. Stephen longs for a market where phones are sold independently of service, and bandwidth is cheap and plentiful; he's not holding his breath. In the meantime, he devours smartphone news and tries to sort out the juicy bitsRead more about Stephen Schenck!